Gov. John Kasich’s education adviser could become the next superintendent of Ohio public
schools.

Richard A. Ross, currently director of the Governor’s Office of 21st Century Education and an
architect of Kasich’s proposed funding formula for public schools, has applied to succeed Stan
Heffner as the state’s full-time superintendent for public instruction. The post — think of it as
chief executive for schools — has been run on an “acting” basis by Michael L. Sawyers since Heffner
resigned in August amid alleged ethical violations and misconduct.

It is up to the 19-member state Board of Education to hire a superintendent, but the governor
appoints eight of the state board members and has input. Sawyers also has applied, according to a
Department of Education spokesman.

“After more than 35 years of working in education, I am excited to continue my work with the
boys and girls of Ohio, and I hope I’m favorably considered,” Ross said in a statement, confirming
his application.

Ann Jacobs, a Republican and elected school board member from Lima who’s been at odds with
Kasich, said “of course” Ross will be hired “because he’s a Kasich guy.”

The candidate search and vetting process is being led by the firm Ray and Associates of Iowa.
The deadline to apply was yesterday, and it wasn’t immediately known who else applied. An associate
of the firm said more than 30 people had applied.

The Kasich administration made at least one move — and possibly more — to clear the way for Ross
to become superintendent.

Robert D. Sommers, who at the time held the position within Kasich’s administration now held by
Ross, was a finalist to be superintendent in 2011 but withdrew his name on advice from Kasich’s
legal counsel that the state’s “revolving door” law would have prohibited him from interacting with
Kasich’s office for 12 months if he became superintendent.

Team Kasich added language to Senate Bill 314 last year clarifying that someone like Ross (or in
the previous case, Sommers) could in fact interact with Kasich’s office on behalf of another state
agency without violating ethics laws.

Also, Jason Rafeld, then chief legal counsel for the Bureau of Workers Compensation, moved to
the Department of Education in October to serve as chief of staff despite uncertainty over who
would be his boss (as superintendent) in the long term.

The state school board could make its choice for a new superintendent in March.